An Australian cricket fan who disguised a pig as a baby for the Ashes Test at the Gabba ground was on Wednesday ordered to attend mediation with the RSPCA.

David Gunn, 33, was charged with animal cruelty after the pet pig, wrapped in a towel with its snout taped shut, was seen in the Brisbane stadium during the opening day of the first Australia-England Test in November.

In a statement to the court, the RSPCA said the pig, named Ash, was traumatised by the incident and dehydrated after being in direct sunlight on a hot day.

Gunn was ordered to attend mediation with the animal welfare charity, spokesman Michael Beatty saying in his experience this involved sitting the person down and trying to make them understand how their actions affected the pig.